Country Church Music - From the Heart

Greetings dear friends and family,

My journey to church Sunday morning was uneventful. The roads had been cleared of last weekend’s snow, so travel was easy. The journey home was quite different. While we worshiped, the wind had caused fallen snow to drift across the highway. In the open where the wind blew freely, the road had become snow packed and very slick. Yet once I began my decent down a hill not far from church, the road was clear. The trees and hills had sheltered the road from the wind.

Without warning, the winds of life can blow across the road upon which we journey. Suddenly, what once was a clear route has become slippery and dangerous. But there is hope. There is a shelter waiting for us where those winds cannot reach us. It is when we take refuge in God that we find shelter from those winds. There we can become renewed and empowered to face whatever blows our way. No wind is ever too powerful for God. He is our fortress, our rock.

You who dwell in the shelter of the Most High, who abide in the shadow of the Almighty, will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress; my God, in whom I trust.” Psalm 91:1-2

Let us pray: God of refuge, enable our hearts to see that it is when we dwell in you we will find the strength needed to face the winds of life and that as we move forward in faith, with you at our side, nothing is impossible. In you everlasting name we pray. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

Sunday morning Kenny and I began a journey. But just a few miles outside of Fremont we knew we would not reach our intended destination. The falling snow and winds were creating white out conditions as well as slick and drifting roads. We turned around and headed home, unable to complete our journey.

Our lives are filled with journeys and destinations. At times on our journeys, plans change. People or events can cause us to fail to reach our destinations.

This Wednesday we begin our Lenten journey. Our destination: the foot of the cross. It is there at Christ’s feet we can unburden our hearts and souls. We can let go of all that weighs us down. It is there we find mercy, grace, and peace.

As we begin our Lenten journey we can trust that we never make the journey alone. Jesus walks with us, helping us to find our way to the cross. It was there that he died for you and for me. Giving us the assurance that one day we will reach our final destination, our eternal home.

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your steadfast love; according to your abundant mercy blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me. Psalm 51: 1-2,10

Let us pray: Merciful God, as we begin this journey to the cross help us to slow down, to look into our hearts and to empty them of all that takes our focus off of you. Fill our hearts with a passion for serving you, to give to those in need hope. In your name we pray. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

Each day we see hundreds of images. On our computers, televisions, cell phones, billboards, store windows, just to name a few. These images can mean nothing to us at times and then there are times when an image speaks to us in ways unexpected.

While attending a conference recently many images appeared on the screen as the speaker gave her presentation. But one image has stuck with me and I continue to reflect on it.

It is the image of an old stone well with stones inside of it. The speaker told us the stones and grit are the things in our lives that cause us to fill in our inner beings, our wells. They are the things that separate us from God.

Often we have the image of God reaching down to us. This time it is reversed. God is reaching up to us. He dwells in the depth of our being, the wellspring of life. And he reaches up through those stones to draw us down. Way down, deep inside ourselves where we can be renewed by the life sustaining waters of our baptism. We must simply be still. God will take it from there.

“Be still, and know that I am God;” Psalm 46:10a

Let us pray: God of all life, so often we separate ourselves from you through our actions and words. Without knowing it we fill in our wells. Reach up through the rocks, stones, and boulders that separate us from you and draw us deep down into our being where the waters of your endless love can splash over us and wash off the grit and grime of our lives. In your glorious name we pray. Amen.

With love from the heart,

Diane

Greetings dear friends and family,

My web browser shut down the other day while I was looking up some things on my computer. When I restarted it, the only way I was allowed to go further was to type in my password. Without my password I would be denied access.

Our lives have become filled with pin numbers, access codes, passwords, and more. All ways to hopefully keep our private information secure. But at times we forget those numbers and letters and are denied access.

Thankfully with God there is no need for codes, numbers, or passwords. Through Jesus’ death and resurrection, we have been given total access to God’s love. Nothing can separate us from his love. Our hearts and souls are secure with him now and for all eternity.

For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38

Let us pray: Gracious God, with you we are secure, no matter what happens to us in this life, nothing can separate us from you. Help us to see what a gift we have been given, set free to live as your children, filled with hope, and reflectors of your love. In your everlasting name we pray. Amen

With love from the heart,

Diane